New Blog

So I've added another blog. Wow this stuff really is fun. :) I wanted a way to update family and friends on how Jake is doing on his mission. So I created a blog where I will be posting his emails and pictures. :) Feel free to take a look if you would like to do so.

Update from Elder Levingston

So it's now been three weeks since Jake went into the MTC. We have received three letter from him so far. It's nice that on his p-day he can get on the internet and email us. He is doing really well. He loves it down there, they get to go to the temple once a week as well. He says that he has also learned to love rice and beans which he hated before he left. It's really good to hear from him. He is very buys, and says that it's really hard, but he knows that he has made the right choice by going.

I'll try to update more frequently. If anyone would like to send him letters let me know I have his snail mail and email address.

Missionary Time

Megan, Levi, Jake and Ashley at the airport before Jake left.

For those of you who don't know Jake received his mission call in February of this year. He is going to the Brazil Curitiba Mission. He reported to the MTC in Sao Paulo on June 10th. Yes I know that was three days ago. So let's back up. On May 3rd Jake went through the Bountiful Temple. Wow, that has to have been one of the best days of my life this far. It was such a wonderfully uplifting experience to be able to go through with Jake for his first time. I will always remember how I felt that day and the spirit that was there.

Jake and I at the temple

Then the next week, Sunday May 11th, Jake spoke in our ward as kind of his farewell. He spoke on mothers. His mom came up to our ward to hear him speak and he gave a wonderful tribute to her, and to me as well. I can't even begin to tell you how much I love this kid. I couldn't ask for a more wonderful step-son, and older brother for the little boys. So after Sacrament meeting we came back to our house and had some food, and visited with the family.

Jake next spoke for his "real" farewell as he would say, on June 8th in Stansbury at his mom's ward. Guy and I and our kids went down for the entire block, Jake wanted to go to Priesthood with Guy one last time. A funny thing happened in Relief Society, I went with Megan, Ashley and Melissa. When they asked for visitors, Melissa turned to Megan and said "You have to introduce Melita, I'm not sure what to say". Melissa is Guy's ex-wife, her and I get along just fine. Anyway Megan introduced me as her step-mom and the rest of the meeting was fine. I don't know why I just found it funny. But it guess it would've been weird to say "This is Melita, my ex-husbands new wife". Anyway, during Sacrament meeting Jake gave a wonderful talk on faith, he didn't seem very nervous. He had prepared so well, he didn't even have to hardly read his talk at all. There were a lot of people there to support him. Ok if you know Jake a lot of them were girls. :) It was really nice. After church we went to Melissa's house and had her homemade ravioli, it was delicious. It was nice to visit with all the family that came out and Jake's friends from high school that we hadn't seen in a while.

That brings us to Tuesday and the airport. Our poor little Jake had never flown before in his life, so he was quite nervous to fly. We got him to the airport took some pictures, visited for a while and then sent him on his way through security. We watched him walk all the way through security, and then watched as he went up the escalator and out of sight. We were all teary eyed and we watched him go. Jake has grown up so much, he has turned into a wonderful young man and I'm sure will be a great missionary for the Church in Brazil. I will keep you updated on his progress as I get updates from him.

We do know that he got to the MTC safe and sound. Also if any of you would like his address to mail him a letter just let me know and I'll get it to you. I'm sure that he will love anything he gets from home.Jake at the airport.